Derek Stepan Ends His On Ice Career As A Hurricane
By Chris Baker
It appears that Derek Stepan has decided to end his career on the ice as a Carolina Hurricane. According to reports, he has joined the Minnesota Wild in a scouting capacity.
Derek Stepan came to Carolina on a one-year contract with the Hurricanes on Oct. 11. 2022 after arriving at training camp on a professional tryout contract. Immediately filled a role in the “We like our group” mentality of the Hurricanes.
In the course of two seasons in Carolina, Derek Stepan tallied 14 goals and 16 assists. He averaged a shooting percentage of 7.25, and a FO% of 55.1.
He started last season as a consistent starter playing 34 of the first 37 games, but eventually saw playing time dwindle with improvements of other Hurricanes forwards.
Stephan ends a 13 year career with 120 playoff games played, 20 goals and 35 assists in the postseason. He spread 182 goals and 333 assists in the regular season across three tours with the New York Rangers, two with the Arizona Coyotes, and one with the Senators and Hurricanes each.
Stepan played his 600th NHL game Oct. 10, 2018 to become the first player in his draft class who was not a first-round pick to do so. Stepan was a second-round pick (No. 51) by the Rangers in the 2008 NHL Draft. That draft class saw Steven Stamkos, Drew Doughty, and Zach Bogosian go 1, 2, 3 in the first round.
What official role Derek Stepan will take with the Wild has, as of this writing, yet to be announced, but it will likely be something within player development.
The Hurricanes can use the cap space created by Stepan’s departure to help sign still yet to be signed players like Brett Pesce, I for one hate to see Stepan not suiting up for Carolina in a few weeks. His veteran leadership and playoff experience was critical with the Hurricanes.